Fallout by Sara Paretsky, 304 pages

I have no good excuse as to why it took me so long to read "Fallout."  This is book #18 in Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski mystery series.  V.I. is a tough and smart female private investigator based in Chicago.  In this outing she travels to Lawrence, KS to find an aging actress and her young biographer who have disappeared from Chicago.

As usual Paretsky delivers smart writing, an engaging fast-paced story and plenty (but not too much) grit.  Happily, in the time it took me to get around to reading this one Sara Paretsky has published another V.I. Warshawski novel.  "Shell Game" is on deck to be read darned soon!

Bent Road by Lori Roy, 352 pages

"Bent Road" is the Downtown Library's September book club book.  The book won an Edgar Award for best first novel.

Set in western Kansas in the late 1960's, a family has migrated from Detroit back to the father's hometown in Kansas because of the race riots.  Returning to Kansas is not all happiness and roses.  There is domestic abuse, missing children and maybe convicts on the loose.

It was suspenseful, dark and depressing.  Frankly, not my cup of tea.

Crossing the Tracks by Barbara Stuber 258 Pages

Crossing the Tracks by Barbara Stuber interested me because it takes places during the 1920's in Kansas and Missouri.  Most of the story takes place in Wellsford, Missouri.  Iris is 15 years old and lives with her father in Kansas.  Her mother died when she was very young.  Her father recently became engaged and has plans of moving his bootery to Kansas City, Missouri with his new wife.  Iris assumed that she would be moving to Kansas City too.  She soon learns that her father has found her a job working for a small town doctor who needs help caring for his elderly mother.  Iris is sent off to live in Wellsford, Missouri, leaving the only home and friends she has ever known.  Iris struggles with feeling of abandonment and betrayal by her father.  What Iris learns while living with Dr. Nesbitt and his mother are invaluable.  Life is hard and unfair for Iris and when tragedy strikes again she soon experiences warmth and understanding like she has never known. 

The Center of Everything by Laura Moriarty 352 pages



"The Center of Everything" is set in the fictional town of Kerrville, Kansas in the 1980s.  The narrator is 10 year old Evelyn Bucknow who is being raised by her young single mother, Tina.   The story follows Evelyn's life from 4th grade until right before her highschool graduation.  

Both Evelyn and Tina do a lot of growing up throughout the story.  There are references to events in the 1980s that were fun to read about.  The story was ultimately uplifting and it was definitely engrossing.  This one definitely goes on my "recommend to others" list.